I didn't spill the beans

 I love my local Far North District library . They put out  a monthly list of new books which I browse and always find some interesting (food) books. My latest find: The Bean Book by Steve Sando. 

What a great book. Full of information and recipes. It made me want to cook, eat and - plant beans. The cooking was already a challenge because here in New Zealand all you can get is canned beans (I'll come to more details further down.). Urgh! Not so good. Although canned beans are convenient they usually cook too soft and contain other ingredients like a high level of salt, sugar etc.   

A friend brought me some dried Faba beans from the next big(er) city but they are so old they need days to cook. Nevertheless it was a start.

Then I found some Black Turtle Beans in one of my favorite local shop, Priyas Ethnic Grocery Store (Facebook Link). Much better! 

Now to the growing part. If I plant them now I am still in for an early Winter Harvest here in the Far North. Again, a search came up with little more than nothing. I learned that the main import countries for dried beans are the US and Canada and they have some disease which caused New Zealand to close their borders for imports. If you like to know more, the Ottimo Food Store - Why dried beans are hard to buy? has some great information. 

Then I found Heritage Food Crops Research Trust . Believe it or not, they will send you seeds for free! You just need to send them a self-adressed envelope. They want to support people to grow heritage beans. Of course a Donation is welcomed and, in my eyes, goes without saying. 

I asked them for a small selection of bean seeds, and they sent me this:

That's 21 (twenty one) different heirloom heritage bean seeds. I guess that is all the breeds they have. Amazing. Plus I got 6 packs of heritage tomato seeds on top of it. Knock me down and call me Mr. Bean.  

My bean adventure has started.  I'll keep you posted....